R&G Potato Company and Navajo Mesa Farms support equal opportunity employment for all applicants and employees in compliance with state and federal laws. We also comply with employment requirements of the Tribal Employment Rights Office (TERO) in Idaho and the Navajo Preference Employment Act (NEPA) in New Mexico. We expect all employees to work safely and in harmony with each other.

R&G Potato Company was founded in 1977 by Garn Theobald and Ray DeRoche. A few years into the business, Ray retired and Garn’s brother, Steve, was brought in as a partner and CFO. The two brothers grew R&G and propelled it to become the successful business it is today.

In 2003, the company diversified and the first crop of Navajo Mesa Farms commenced. Navajo Mesa Farms has become an integral part of the R&G legacy and provided an opportunity to expand the business from a brokerage-only standpoint to become a self-sustainable grower.

Irrigation systems have been upgraded with low pressure drop nozzles, variable rate pumps and water application systems, moisture sensors, and several other upgrades all for efficiency and water conservation. Water comes at a great cost in the West. Irrigation management practices and water conservation are of great concern and receive appropriate attention.

Our focus at R&G Potato and Navajo Mesa Farms is to sustain the land, our communities and our business to the best of our abilities. We strive to enrich the environment through good stewardship practices that will benefit future generations. We have reduced our carbon footprint by purchasing locally and using renewable energy sources. We constantly strive to be a leader in conservation and sustainability practices.

NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT

PEST MANAGEMENT

Nutrient plans and actions are completed using consultants and applicators who are all properly licensed and trained after appropriate soil tests indicate needs. Petiole testing is complete during plant life cycle to manage plant health and efficacy of the plan. All nutrient management is completed within regulation and industry standards using best management practices.

Current Integrated Pest Management includes filter strips, crop rotations and other pest prevention and avoidance stratagem. Base management plans are developed for each crop based on history. Fields are inspected on a regular periodic schedule by growers, consultants and field men. Traps are used to identify pest presence and concentrations. If action thresholds are exceeded, the base management plan is modified to achieve desired results

ENERGY

Many upgrades, new equipment and processes have been updated to conserve energy throughout the production cycle. These conservation strategies are implemented from planting to shipping. Some of these include, but are not limited, to reduced field passes, added insulation walls in storage, low pressure conversions in irrigation systems, variable rate motors and pumps and many more. Energy conservation and improvement projects are numerous and varied.

We currently have 13 growers in Idaho with more than 300 years of combined chip potato production experience. We take pride in cultivating and investing in our relationships with our growers and spend time with them in their fields, storages and also on a personal level